Hello everyone! In today's sharing, I will introduce how to easily install the Mac OS system to an external hard drive to solve the problem of insufficient built-in storage space on devices such as Mac mini. Since it was a spur-of-the-moment idea, I only took some photos, and some of the pictures were added later. At the same time, I will also share my personal views on the 40Gbps Akasis Thunderbolt 4 hard drive enclosure and the 10Gbps USB hard drive enclosure, and by the way, show the hard drive speed of a 2012 MacBook Pro (the first model equipped with an SSD), hoping to provide some reference for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The operation video is below -<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capacity vs. speed: How do ordinary users choose?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For most of us ordinary users, hard drive capacity is often the primary consideration, which directly determines whether we can store the required files and applications. As for hard drive speed, it is often just a matter of "waiting". Therefore, in my opinion, it is worthwhile to buy a hard drive enclosure to expand storage, but whether or not to choose a Thunderbolt interface is not necessarily absolute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seven steps to install a macOS external hard drive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Compared with Windows, the installation process of macOS can be described as "simple". Below I will show the specific steps through 7 pictures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 1: Format the disk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, we need to format the external hard drive to Apple's APFS file system. Select your external hard drive in "Disk Utility", then click "Erase" and select APFS in the format option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 2: Download macOS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Go to the Mac App Store to search and download the macOS system you want to install. If you are not sure which version you should download, you can check your device information in "Settings" > "General" > "About this device", and then search for the corresponding system version in the App Store. Click "Get" to start downloading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 3: Set full disk access permissions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you install macOS directly to an external hard drive, or try to install certain apps to an external hard drive, you may encounter a prompt that you do not have sufficient permissions. At this time, you need to open "Settings", select "Privacy & Security", and then find "Full Disk Access Permission". Click the "+" sign in the lower left corner and add the "Install macOS [version name].app" you want to install the system to and the apps you want to run on the external hard drive to the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 4: Start installation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After setting the disk permissions, you can start installing macOS normally. The installation process takes about half an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 5: Restart your Mac and select your startup disk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When the installation is complete, you'll be prompted to restart your Mac. But don't just click Restart at this point. Instead, open Settings, select General, and then click Startup Disk. You'll see your internal and external disks. Select your external disk and click Restart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 6: Wait for the system installation to complete<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After restarting, your Mac will boot from the external hard drive and continue to complete the system installation process. It may restart multiple times during this period, please be patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 7: Complete the setup guide and import data<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After the system is installed, you will enter the familiar macOS setup boot interface. Here, you can choose to import data from the Mac mini internal disk to your external hard drive system without making additional backups in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n